Automatic safety stop



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AUTOMATIC SAFETY STQP Filed Aug. '7, 1942 2 sheets-sheet 1 Q ml" Ss nfllllllh.

m @Mga March 7, 1944. D. PINNELLI 2,343,474

AUTOMATIC SAFETY STOP Filed Aug. '7. 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 glu/ummm azao pz'nzeZZz' f MQW@ www#

Patented Mar. 7, i944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC SAFETY sToP Donato Pinnelli, Orange, N. J. Application August 7, 1942, Serial No. 454,029

' 7 Claims. (LCI. 192-56) This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in automatic safety stops. The primary object of the invention is to provide an automatic safety stop in the form` of a friction clutch for use in drive mechanisms and one in whichan overload upon a driven device will automatically disconnectl a driving device from the driven device, with the driving device continuing in its motion while the driven device stands idle and thereby eliminate damage to the driven device.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic safety 'stop for a driven; member wherein a friction clutch of a drive element comprising a rotated member has threaded engagement with a member of the driven element with unthreading movement between the two members being in the direction of rotation of the drive element so that overload or stoppage of the driven element permits unthreading action of the drive member of the clutch relative thereto for the disconnection of the drive member from the driven element.

`With the above and other objects in view that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in section, showing the automatic safety stop associated with an intersecting gill head of a drawing machine and with the clutch members of the device threadedly engaged with each other,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing the drive and driven elements, the friction clutch therebetween with a stopmember for the drive element of the clutch shown by dotted lines in a shifted position for disconnecting the drive element of the clutch from the drive shaft, the drive elements of the clutch being illustrated as engaged with each other,

.Figure -3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view, similar to Figure 2, showing the clutch members of the safety stop separated,

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Figure 2,

, Figure 5 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2, and

' Figure 6 is a perspective viewof the shiftable key carried by the stop collar for controlling operation of the clutch collar. f

For purposes of illustration only, the automatic safety stop has been shown in connec- 1 tion with an intersecting gill head of a drawing machine embodying comb elements for straightening hemp or other fibers and it is to be understood that this automatic safety stop! or clutch may be employed in various arts wherein the Weight of the driven load is not excessive and wherein the presence of an overload is operative to immediately disconnect the clutch elements of the safety stop and bringing the driven mechanism to rest and permitting oo ntinuous operation of the drive mechanism.

As briefly illustrated in Figure 1, an intersecting gill head for a drawing machine is shown as comprising side standards I Il connected by a cross head II and between which the usual gill head combs mounted upon a driven member are disposed. As illustrated by dotted lines in Figure 1, the intersecting gill head comprises a gear train I2 adjacent each standard I0 that are in mesh with a drive gear designated in general by the reference character I3 that forms a part of the drive mechanism for the gear trains I2.

It is to be understood that a battery of such machines as briefly described may be set up and a single longitudinally extending drive shaft I4 is provided therefor, a bracket support I5 with a bearing I6 for one end of the shaft being supported on one of the frame standards I 0 as shown in Figure 1. Other supports for the drive shaft I4 are provided at suitably( spaced points in the battery of machines. A sleeve I'I is freely rotatable on the drive shaft I4 and is of a length to have its ends extend over the gear trains I2 with a drive gear I3 of the automatic safety stop mechanism secured to each end thereof.

As shown more clearly in Figures 2 and 4 the drive gear I3 comprises a cylindrical bearing I8 that is keyed as at I9 to the sleeve I'I and to restrain the drive gear I3 from longitudinal movement relative to the sleeve, said drive gear is anchored in position by the radial set screw 20 passing through the cylindrical bearing I8 for engagement with the sleeve I'I. One end of the bearing sleeve I8 is provided with a bevel gear 2I that meshes with an adjacent bevel gear of the adjacent gear train I2. The other end of the bearing sleeve I8 'has the bore thereof reduced in diameter to provide an abutment shoulder 22 for engaging the adjacent end of the sleeve I'I andV a bearing face 23 freely riding upon the drive shaft I4. The end 24 of the bearing sleeve I8 is provided on its outer side With a left-hand screw thread 25 and the end terminal face of the end 24 of the bearing I8 constitutes a friction clutch face 26. It will be observed that the sleeve I1 and drive gear I3 secured thereto are in constant mesh with the gear train I2 and are capable of movement independently of the drive shaft I4.

A clutch collar and a., slide collar are keyed to the drive shaft I4, the clutch collar cooperating with the drive gear I8 for the operation of the gear trains I2 and as shown more clearly in'.-

Figlues 2, 3, 5 and 6, the clutch collar 21 is mounted on the drive shaft I4 adjacent the end 24 of the drive gear I3, the bore in the clutch collar having a key slot 28 for registry with the key slot 29 in the drive shaft, and to be splined on0 said shaft by means of the intertting key 3D. The side of the clutch collar 21 facing the end 24 of thedrive gear I3 is recessed lto provide an annular socket, the outer annular wall of whichis provided with a left-hand thread 3| mating the thread' 25-upon the drive gear while the bottom face 32 of the end socket in the clutch collar forms a friction clutch face cooperatingwith the terminal and clutch face` 26 on the drive gear I3;

An abutment slide coll-ar is mounted on the drive shaft I4`for the clutch collar 21, the slide collar- 33?' as shown in Figures 2, 3 and -having a keyA slot 34 in the bore thereof registering with the key slot 29 in the driveAv shaft I4 with the adjacentend of the key 33 securingtheslide collai` to the drive shaft I4 for rotation therewith. As shown'in Figuresv 2, 3 and 6 the end of the key that extends into the collai` key slot 34 has a notch 35 therein that receives the stud screw 36` to` form an intertting connection between the slide collar 33 and the key 3D; The slide collar 33is retained inV its adjusted position longitudinally of the drive shaft I4"by means of a pair of stud' screws 31 radially passing therethrough for. engagement with the drive shaft as shown in Figure 5. From an inspectionof Figures 2 and 3 it will be Observed thatthe key slot 29 in the drive shaft I4 extends a distance beyond the normal position of the slide collar 33;

Inthe normalposition of the automatic safety stopcomprising theprincipal elements, namely, the clutch` collar 21A and the drive gear I3, the` clutch collar. is. threaded onto the drive gear and by the. use of, a Spanner wrench having, lugs entering the radial openings 38l, in the clutch collar, these elements are rmly united, the clutch faces 26.- and` 32 engaging each other as Well as the faces, of the threadsill and 3i Also, inthe normal positiorrofthese coupled elementsof the automatic. safety stop, the clutchcollar 21 is spaced from the slide collar 33. Theshaft, I4 rotates in the direction of thearrow Awhichisin a direction tending to unthread the clutch collar from the drive gear, but the frictional` engage.- ment between the clutch-faces ofthe clutch collar and drive gear is` stronger than the resistance offered by the gear trains I2 and the elements, driven thereby. Should theelements driven by the gear trains or-the spur gears of the trains jam in anyway. the overload offered therebywould: be greater than the power of the frictional contact between the clutch collar and drive gear which would result in immediate stoppage of rotation of the sleeve I1 carrying the drive gear I3y and: iny association with the gear trains I2 and cause the :clutch collanto unthread. from thedrive.

gear by the continued rotation thereof with the shaft I4, the splined key connection between ythe clutch collar and drive gear permitting sliding movement of the clutch collar longitudinally 5 of the drive shaft for displacement laterally of the drive gear I3 to assume the disconnected position shown in Figure 3 and to be abuttingly engaged with the adjustably xed slide collar 33. The drive shaft I4 continues in its operation for .the operation of the other. machines of the battery and only the disconnected machine is out of operation for repair purposes. When it is desired to place the damaged machine back into operation, the drive shaft I4 for the battery of machines is brought to rest, the slide collar 33 released by ther stud screws 31 from its connection with the drive shaft I4 and is shifted to its dotted line position shown in Figure 2 to carry therewith the key 3l) and to free the clutch collar 21 relative to said key and driven shaft. The clutch collar is-thenfmoved toward the drive gear and upon rotation ofthe driven mechanism and gear' slide col-lar 331is then returned to its normal op erating position as illustrated by full lines in Figy ure 2 and moves the key 30 into the cooperating keyways 28 and It-of the' clutch collar and drive shaft for lockingthe clutch collar to the drive shaft.`

From the above detailed description of the invention, it` is believed that the construction and operation thereof will at once be apparent andwhilethere is herein shown and described the preferred embodiment oi the invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing froml the spirit and scope of :the invention as claimed.

I claim:

l. Ine-a safety stop of the character described, a drive shaft, a sleeve-journaled thereon, cooperating clutch elements respectively carried by the sleeve and-shaft, driven mechanism in con-f stant association with the clutch element on 60 for the separating movements thereof in the direction of rotation ofthe drive shaft, and an 'abutmentl member adjustably mounted on the drive shaft and` having means movable there` with for connecting and-disconnecting one of the clutchelements relative to the drive shaft.

2. In a safety stop of the characterdescribed, a drive shaft, a sleevey journaled thereon, cooperatingr clutch'elements respectively carried by the sleeve and shaft, driven mechanism in consta-nt association with the clutch element on the collar against rotation by means of a spanner` the sleeve, a threaded connection between the clutch elements having the direction of threadsA the sleeve and shaft, driven mechanism in constant association with the clutch element on the sleeve, a threaded connection between the clutch elements having the direction of threads for the separating movements thereof in the direction of rotation of the drive shaft, the threaded con* nection between the clutch elements including an internally threaded recess on one element with a fiat friction face at the bottom of the recess and an external thread on the other clutch element with the end thereof having a flat friction face.

4. In a safety stop of the character described, a drive shaft, a sleeve journaled thereon, cooperating clutch elements respectively carried by the sleeve and shaft, driven mechanism in constant association with the clutch element on the sleeve, a threaded connection between the clutch elements having the direction of threads for the separating movements thereof in the direction of rotation of the drive shaft, an abutment slide collar on the shaft outwardly of the clutch element carried thereby and means attached to said slide collar and movable therewith for keying the last named clutch element to the shaft, said means being rendered inoperable upon outward shifting movement of the abutment slide collar, the threaded connection between the clutch elements including an internally threaded recess on one element with a flat friction face at the bottom of the recess and an external thread on the other clutch element with the end thereof having a flat friction face.

5. In a safety stop of the character described, a drive shaft, a sleeve journaled thereon, cooperating clutch elements respectively carried by the sleeve and shaft, driven mechanism in constant association with the clutch element on the sleeve, a threaded connection between the clutch elements having the direction of threads for the separating movements thereof in the direction of rotation of the drive shaft, an abutment slide collar on the shaft outwardly of the clutch element thereon, a spline key on the shaft having an interlocking connection with the slide collar and said key forming a spline connection between the clutch element on the sleeve and the shaft and movable with the abutment collar for displacement relative to the last named clutch element.

6. In a safety stop of the character described, drive and driven elements, clutch devices respectively carried by said elements and secured thereto, a threaded connection between the clutch elements having unthreading movements thereof in the direction of rotation of the drive element, and means comprising a displaceable spline for disconnecting the clutch device carried by the drive element therefrom for rendering the clutch devices inoperative during rotation of the drive element.

7. In a safety stop of the character described, drive and driven elements, clutch devices respectively carried by said elements and secured thereto, a threaded connection between the clutch elements having unthreading movements thereof in the direction of rotation of the drive element, and means for disconnecting the clutch device carried by the drive element therefrom for rendering the clutch devices inoperative during rotation of the drive element, said means including a slide collar on the drive element and a spline key interlocked and slidable therewith with the key engageable and disengageable With its associated clutch device.

DONATO PINNELLI. 

